Pile regulator



July 18, 1950 B. o. AUSTIN 2,515,975

PILE REGULATOR Filed Aug. 17, 1948 26 so as Fig.l.

Fig. 2.

WITNESSES:

INVENTOR Boscum 0. Austin.

ATTORNE Patented July 18, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PILE REGULATOR Bascum 0. Austin, Lima, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 17, 1948, Serial N 0. 44,776

ing an armature mounted on a special spring construction which works between a sloped abutment surface and the stack.

In commercial practice, it has been difficult to maintain stability in a regulator of the type exemplified by the Newton patent, as the special mounted armature assembly is detrimentally affected during operation of the regulator by heat conducted from the stack. Further, the abutment member seats against the electromagnet being held in position only by the pressure of the spring of the armature assembly with the result that under operating conditions involving vibration, the abutment member vibrates and varies the bias of the spring and thereby causes an unstable operation of the regulator.

An object of this invention is to provide, in a pile regulator having an armature assembly in-- cluding a spring therefor, for preventing the direct transfer of heat and electricity from the pile to the armature and spring "under operating conditions for the regulator. I

Another object of this invention is to provide a pile regulator having a spring mounted armature assembly working between an abutment member and the pile to control the pressure thereof with a housing which cooperates with the abutment member to prevent vibration thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide, in a pile regulator having a spring mounted armature assembly which works between an abutment member and the pile, for firmly. holding the abutment member to prevent vibration thereof and to also prevent the direct transfer .of heatand electricityfrom the pile to the spring.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a view in side elevation and partly in section illustrating a pile regulator embodying the teachings of this invention, and

Fig. 2 is a view in section greatly enlarged :of the armature assembly of the regulatorlill'us- .trated in Fig.

Referring to the drawing and in particular to Fig. 1 thereof, this invention is illustrated by reference to a pile regulator l0 formed of a stack l2 of discs M of resistance material such as carbon, and an electromagnet assembly l6 disposed to control the pressure on the stack l2.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the stack [2 is disposed between a relatively fixed pressure plate 18 of carbon or the like and a movable pressure plate 20, also of carbon, being encased in a metallic tubular housing 22. The housing 22 is of any suitable metal being preferably of Invar, a 36% nickel-iron alloy, which has substantially zero coeflicient of thermal expansion. The outer surface 24 of the housing 22 is preferably roughened as by knurling, fluting or otherwise forming ribs or grooves thereon to aid in securing a plurality of cooling fins 26 thereon. The cooling fins 26 are preferably of aluminum and are disposed about the housing 22 in spaced relation lengthwise of the housing for dissipating heat which is developed in the stack I2 during an operation of'the regulator. As a general rule, the coolin fins 26 are independently mounted one from the other dependin upon their interlocking relation with the surface of the housing 22 for maintaining them in operative relation on the housing. The fins 26 are preferably formed as by casting the aluminium in position with respect. to the housing 22.

As illustrated, the terminal fin 26' at the end of the stack adjacent the fixed pressure plate [8 is formed as an integral unit with the adjacent fin 26, a common hub 30 being formed therebetween for strengthening the support of the terminal fin on the housing. This is done in order to facilitate mounting an end plate 32 to the terminal fin 26 by any suitable means, such as screws (not shown), a washer 34 of insulation being disposed between the terminal plate 32 and the terminal fin 26. An adjustable nut 36 is disposed in threaded engagement with theplate 32 for receiving the end of the pressure plate I8 and for initial adjustment ofthepressure on the stack l2.

At the opposite end of the stack l2, the terminal fin 26" is formed simultaneously with a se c tion 38 of a sectionalized housing for the electromagnet I6. Thus the section 38 and the terminal fin 25" are formed with a common hub 40 therebetween, the hub 40 being securely interlocked with the roughened surface of the housing 22 to provide a strong support for the section 38 of the sectionalized housing for the electromagnet 18. The section 38 of the housing is preferably of a cup-shape form for encompassing the armature assembly 42 of the electromagnet IS, a shoulder flange 44 being provided internally of the section 38 about the side wall thereof a predetermined distance from the ends of the section 38. The purpose of the shoulder flange 44 will be explained more fully hereinafter.

As illustrated, the electromagnet I6 is of the usual construction having an iron-core magnetic housing formed of a base-plate 48 with lugs 48 disposed in spaced relation thereabout, the side wall member 50 and end pole pieces 52 with an adjustable core member 56. The energizing winding 56 of the electromagnet is disposed about the core member d within the section of the sectionalized housing formed by the magnetic housing for the electromagnet being insulated from the magnetic housing and the core member in any suitable manner. j

The armature assembly 42 is disposed to co- .operate'with an abutment member v5;; for controlling the pressureapplled to the stack l2. As more clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the abutment member 58 comprises acircular ring having one surface .68 thereof sloped inwardly from adjacent the outer edge of the abutment member 58 towards. the central opening =01? the ring thereby forming mutually inclined surfaces on the one side or face of the abutment member.

.The outer edge of the one faceof the ring mem her which carries the sloped surface 6.0 is formed ,with ,aflat' surface .62 for cooperating with the shoulder flange A l of the section 38 of the sectionalized housing, as will be explained-fullyhcreinafter. The opposite side of the abutment memof the abutmentmemberjfifi the outer edge of. the diaphragm; 68 terminatingon the flat surfaeefi l oi the abutment member 5.8. As illustrated, the armature .65 also .lsclisposed to carry a spring member 10 and. the components for mounting the spring member.

The spring member I) is of any suitable metal being preferably .of a single thickness and of star form (not shown) the rays or, fingers .of the star extending beyond the armature to seat against the sloped surface 60 of the abutment, member .53... "Ihespring memhermmw be formed with the rays }or fin ers of the spring fixed at a predetermined anglewith respect tothe sloped suriace. .611 of, the abutment member; as illustrated in the Newton Patent No." 2,263,718, ormayhave a predetermined angleflimparted thereto by other means such as is disclosed inthe dependin application, Serial .No. ,44,598 (now Patent No.

VS/Talley, filed simultaneously herewith, it. bein understood that the angle bfthe spring ll] with respect to the slop-ed surface 600i theabutme-nt member .58 will determine theflrload deflection curve of the electromagnet.v In the embodiment illustrated, idorderto mount thespringlfl .on thearmature .65, washers l2 and .1 4 are disposed .on opposite sideswof. thesprin v10. so that the spring 1.0. will be firmly heldin a required position when the. components are secured together. a .As illustrated, each .oi fthediaphragm .63, the

.spr-ing member 7,13 and the washers 1,2 and 4 isprovided with a central opening therein, so that when the components named are in aligned relation, an opening is formed for receiving an end of a cylindrical sleeve 16 of ceramic material, whereby an end of the sleeve 16 seats against the armature G6 and the other end of the sleeve 16 is disposed to receive an end of the movable pres sure plate '20 and thereby carry the pressure plate in its operative relation with respect to the stack 12. The sleeve 15 may be of any suitable ceramic material, such as porcelain or glass or any burnt clay or refractory product which has good heat and electrical insulating characteristics. The end-of the sleeve 76 disposed to carry the movable pressure plate 2.8 is also provided with a slot 18 for receiving a conductor 8!] (illustrated in Fig. 1) which is electrically secured to the pressure plate.

In order to maintain the cylindrical sleeve it in assembled relation with respect to the other components of the armature assembly 42, the sleeve 1-6 is provided with .a shoulder 32 for receiving the inner edge of a ring flange 84 which is disposed to seat upon the washer .74 and on theshoulder 82. A plurality of spaced screws 86 are disposed inspaced relation through thecomponents forming the armature assembly'for .s'ecuring the armature 66, the diaphragm .68, the spring 1.0, the washer members 12 and M andthe plate 84 together as an integral unit with the cylindricals'leeve 16 carried thereby, the .abutment member '58 being disposed between the extension of the diaphragm .68 and the ends of the spring 10. 1

When the armature assembly 4,2 is disposed within the .se'c'tionalized housin ,for the electromagnet 15, the abutment member 58 tends to seat upon the magnetic housing for the electromagnet and when the sections of the housing are assembled and secured as by means of a plurality of spaced bolts .88, the shoulder 4 3 of the section 38 of the housing seats against the flat surface 62 .of the abutment member to tightly hold the abutment member 58in its mounted position and to prevent vibration thereof. ,As illustrated, the abutment seats upon the edge of the diaphragm 68, the diaphragm being held between the pole piece 52 .of the magnetic housing for the electromagnet and the flat surface .64 of the abutment. Thus since the abutment member 58 is firmly h ld between thesections .of the sectionalized housing, the armature assembly 42 will not be detrimentally affected by any vibrations or movement of the abutment member 58,. I V

The regulator of this invention functions in the normal manner, in that the .pull of the electromagneton the armature 66 is in opposition to the force of the spring In for controlling the pressure applied through the movable pressure plate .20 to the stack l2. However, since the sleeve 16 between the pressure plate 20 and the armature 42 and the ,springJD'is of a ceramic material, the sleeve lfi constitutes a heat dam toprevent any direct transfer of heat from the ,stack lzand the plate 2.0 to, the armature 66 and the spring 10. At the same time perfect electrical insulation is also provided b the sleeve 16.

Thus the, arm re assemblyis unaffected by heat developed in thestack .and the characteristics of the different components forming the armature assembly 42 will not change by reason of exposure to he t.

By eliminating the possibility of damage to the armature assembly 42 or adverse efiects thereon by reason of a direct transfer of heat thereto and by firmly holding the abutment member 58 in assembled relation with respect to the other componentsof the regulator, a very stable operation of the regulator can be obtained. Further, by utilizing the sleeve 16 of ceramic material which is substantially unaffected by heat, it has been possible to shorten the distance between the armature 66- and the movable pressure plate 20, thereby minimizing side thrust on the discs Id of the stack 12 to thereby reduce friction in the stack I2. The components of the assembly are formed of standard elements and the structure of this invention can be readily reproduced.

Although reference has been made hereinbefore with respect to the diaphragm 68 for efiecting damping during the operation of the electromagnet, this structure is disclosed in Patent No. 2,408,188, issued September 24, 1946 to B. O. Austin and of itself forms no part of this invention. Likewise, the sectionalized housing for the electromagnet and the fin structure for the regulator is broadly disclosed and claimed in the copending application of J. D. Miner, Jr. et a1., Serial No. 44,597, filed simultaneously herewith. However, the means for preventing vibration of the abutment member as disclosed in this application is distinct from any of the claimed subject matterof the identified Miner et a1. application.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a pile regulator having a stack of discs of resistance material and an electromagnet disposed for operation to control the pressure applied to the stack, the combination comprising, a circular abutment member having a central opening therein and having at least a portion of one of its surfaces inclined inwardly from adjacent its outer edge towards the central opening, an armature assembly including an armature disposed in the central opening of the abutment member, a diaphragm disposed to be carried by the armature and extending outwardly therefrom along the other side of the abutment member to adjacent the outer edge thereof, a sleeve of ceramic material disposed between the armature and the stack, a spring member disposed to be carried by the armature with an end of the spring member extending therebeyond along said one surface of the abutment member to seat against the inclined surface thereof, means for securing the spring member, diaphragm, sleeve and armature together as an integral assembled unit with the abutment member disposed between the diaphragm and the spring member, a sectionalized housing for the electromagnet, one section of the housing being carried at an end of the stack and being disposed to encompass the armature assembly and abutment member, and a flange carried internally of said one section dispsosed to seat against the outer edge of the abutment member when the sections of the housing are assembled with the armature assembly therein to hold the abutment member firmly against the electromagnet, the spring member functioning when seated against the held abutment member to exert pressure through the sleeve against the stack, the sleeve of ceramic material preventing. a direct transfer of heat and electricity from the stack to the armature and spring member.

2. In a pile regulator having a stack of discs of resistance material and an electromagnet disposed for operation to control the pressure applied to .mature disposed in the central opening of the abutment member, a diaphragm disposed to be carried by the armature and extending outwardly therefrom along the other side of the abutment member to adjacent the outer edge thereof, a sleeve of ceramic material disposed between the armature and the stack, a spring member disposed to be carried by the armature with an end of the spring member extending therebeyond along said one surface of the abutment member to seat against the inclined surface thereof, means for securing the spring member. diaphragm, sleeve and armature together as an integral assembled unit with the abutment member disposed between the diaphragm and the spring member, a sectionalized housing for the electromagnet, one section of the housing being carried at an end of the stack and being disposed to encompass the armature assembly and abutment member, a flange carried internally of said one section, and means for securing the sections of the housing in assembled relation with the electromagnet, armature and abutment member therein, the flange of said one section being disposed to seat against the outer edge of the abutment member to hold it firmly against the electromagnet within the housing, the spring member functioning when seated against the held abutment. member to exert pressure through the sleeve against the stack, the sleeve of ceramic material preventing a direct transfer of heat and electricity from the stack to the armature and spring member.

3. In a pile regulator having a stack of discs of resistance material and an electromagnet disposed for operation to control the pressure applied to the stack, the combination comprising, a circular abutment member having a central opening therein and having at least a portion of one of its surfaces inclined inwardly from adjacent its outer edge towards the central opening to form mutually inclined surfaces thereon, an armature assembly including an armature disposed in the central opening of the abutment member, a diaphragm disposed to be carried by the armature and extending outwardly therefrom along the other side of the abutment member to adjacent the outer edge thereof, a sleeve of ceramic material disposed between the armature and the stack, a spring member of star form having a central opening therein for receiving the sleeve, the spring member being disposed to be carried by the armature with the rays of the spring member extending therebeyond along said one surface of the abutment member to seat against the mutually inclined surface thereof, means for securing the spring member, diaphragm, sleeve and armature together as an integral assembled unit with the abutment member disposed between the diaphragm and the rays of the spring member, a sectionalized housing for the electromagnet, one section of the housing being carried at an end of the stack and being disposed to encompass the armature assembly and abutment member, and

" angers 4; In a pile regulator having astack of discs ofresistance material and an 'electromagnet disposed for operation to control the pressure applied to the stack, the combination comprising, a circular abutment member 'having a cent'ral opening .sembly including an armaturedisposjed in the central opening of the abutment member, a diaphragm disposed. to be carried by the armature and extending outwardly therefrom along the other side of the abutment member to adjacent the outer edge thereof, a cylindrical body of ceramic material disposed between the armature and'the stack, the cylindrical body having a shoulder flange disposed t'here'about, a spring member of star form having a central opening therein for receiving the cylindrical body, the spring member being disposed to be carried by the armature with the rays of the spring member extending therebeyond along said one surface of the abutment member to seat against the inclined surface thereof, a plate member disposed about the cylindrical body to seat upon the shoulder flange thereof, means for securing the plate member, spring member, diaphragm, cylindrical body and armature together as an integral assembled unit with the abutment member disposed between the diaphragm and therays of the spring member, a sectionalized housing for the electromagnet, one sction of the housing being carried at an end of the stack and being disposed to encompass the armature assembly and abutment member, anda flange carried internally of said one section disposed to seat against the outer edge of the abutment member when the sections of the housing are assembled with the armature assembly therein to hold the abutment member firmly against the electromagnet, the spring member functioning when seated against the held abutment member to 'eir'ert pressure through the cylindrical body against the stack, the cylindrical body of ceramic material preventing a direct transfer of heat and electricity from the stack to the armature and spring member.

5. In a pile regulator having a stack of discs of resistance material disposed between a fixed pressure plate and a movable pressure plate and an electromagnet disposed for operation to con-- trol force applied to the movable pressure plate and thereby control the pressure applied to the stack, the combination comprising, a circular abutment member having a central opening therein and having at least a portion of one of its surfaces inclined inwardly from adjacent its outer edge towards the central opening to form mutually inclined surfaces thereon, an armature assembly including an armature disposed in the central opening of the abutment member, a diaphragm disposed to be carried by the armature and extending outwardly therefrom along the 'other side of the abutment member to adjacent, the outer edge thereof, a sleeve of ceramic ma-' terial disposed to seat against the armature and to carry the movable pressure plate, a spring member having a central opening therein for receiving the sleeve, the spring member being disposed to be carried by the armature with the ends of the spring member extending therebeyond along said one surface of the abutment member to seat against the mutually inclined surfaces thereof, means for securing the spring member, diaphragm, sleeve and armature together as an integral assembled unit with the abutment member disposed between the diaphragm and the spring member, a 'sectionalized housing for the electromagnet, one section of the housing being carried at the end of the stack adjacent the movable pressure plate andbeing disposed to encompass'the armature assembly and abutment member, and a flange carried internally of said one section disposed to seat against the outer edge of the abutment member when the sections of the housing are assembled with the armature assembly therein to hold the abutment member firmly against the electromagnet, the spring member functioning when seated against the held 'abutmerit'member 'te exert pressure through the sleeve and pressure plate carried thereby to compress the s'tac'k, the sleeve of ceramic material preventing a direct transfer of heat and electricityfr'om the stack'and movablepressure plate to the armature and spring member.

6. In a pile regulator having a stack of discs of resistance material disposed between a f xed pressure plate and a movable pressure plate and an ele'ctromagnet disposed for operation to control force appliedto the movable pressure p ate and thereby control the pressure applied to the stack, the combination comprising, a circular abutment member having a central opening therein and having at "least a portion of one of its surfaces inclined inwardly from adjacent its outer edge towards the central opening to form mutually inclined surfaces thereon, an armature assembly including an armature disposed in the 'centralopening of the abutment member, a diaphragm disposed to be carried by the armature and extending cutwardly therefrom along the other side of the abutment memloer to adjacent the ou'ter edge thereof, a sleeve of ceramic material disposed to seat against the armature and to carry the movable pressure plate, a spring member having a central opening therein for receiving the sleeve, the spring member being disposed to be carried by the armature with the ends of the spring member extending therebeyond along said one surface of the abutment member to seat against the mutually inclined surfaces 1 thereof, means for securing the spring member,

diaphragm, sleeve and armature together as an integral assembled unit with the abutment member disposed between the diaphragm and the spring member, a sectionalized housing for the electromagnet, one section of the housing being carried at the end of the stack adjacent the movable pressure plate and being disposed to encompass the armature assembly and abutment memher, a flange carried internally of said one section, and means for securing the sections of the housing in assembled relation with the electromagnet, armature and abutment member therein, the flange of "said one section being disposed to seat against the outer edge of the abutment member to hold the abutment member firmly against the electromagnet within the housing, the

\ spring member functioning when seated against the held abutment member to exert pressure through the sleeve and pressure plate carried thereby to compress the stack, the sleeve of ceramic material preventing a direct transfer of heat and electricity from the stack and movable pressure plate to the armature and spring memher.

7. In a pile regulator having a stack of discs of resistance material disposed between a fixed anelectroma'gnet"disposed for operation to control force applied to the movable pressure plate and thereby control the pressure applied to the stack, the combination comprising, a circular abutment member having a central opening therein and having at least a portion of one of its surfaces inclined inwardly from adjacent its outer edge towards the central opening to form mutually inclined surfaces thereon, an armature assembly including an armature disposed in the central opening of the abutment member, a diaphragm disposed to be carried by the armature and extending outwardly therefrom along the other side of the abutment member to adjacent the outer edge thereof, a cylindrical sleeve of ceramic material disposed to seat against the armature and to carry the movable pressure plate, the sleeve having a shoulder flange thereabout, a spring member of star form having a central opening therein for receiving the sleeve, the spring member being disposed to be carried by the armature with the rays of the spring member extending therebeyond along said one surface of the abutment member to seat against the mutually inclined surfaces thereof, a plate member disposed about the sleeve to seat upon the shoulder flange thereof, m ans for securing the plate member, spring member, diaphragm, sleeve and armature together as an integral assembled unit with the abutment member disposed between the diaphragm and the rays of the spring member, a sectionalized housing for the electromagnet, one section of the housing being carried at the end of the stack adjacent the movable pressure plate and being disposed to encompass the armature assembly and abutment member, a flange carried internally of said one section, and means for securing the sections of the housing in assembled relation with the electromagnet, armature and abutment member therein, the flange of said one section being disposed to seat against the outer edge of the abutment member to hold the abutment member firmly against the electromagnet within the housing, the spring member functioning when seated against the held abutment member to exert pressure through the sleeve and pressure plate carried thereby to compress the stack, the sleeve of ceramic material preventing a direct transfer of heat and electricity from the stack and movable pressure plate to the armature and spring member.

8. In a pile regulator having a stack of discs of resistance material and an electromagnet disposed for operation to control the pressure applied to the stack, the combination comprising, an abutment member having an inclined surface disposed upon the electromagnet, an armature assembly for the electromagnet, the armature as sembly including an armature, an insulating member disposed between the armature and the stack, a spring member disposed to be carried by the armature with an end of the spring member in engagement with the inclined surface of the abutment, a diaphragm disposed to be carried by the armature and extending outwardly therefrom along the other side of the abutment member to adjacent the outer edge thereof, and means for holding the spring member, insulating member, diaphragm and armature together as an integral unit whereby the spring member seated against the abutment exerts pressure through the insulating member against the stack, a sectionalized housing for the electromagnet, one section of the housing being carried at an end of the stack and being disposed to encompass the armature assembly and abutment member, a flange carried internally of said one section, and means for securing the sections of the housing in assembled relation with the electromagnet, armature and abutment member therein, the flange of said one section being disposed to seat against the outer edge of the abutment member to hold the abutment member and diaphragm firmly against the electromagnet within the housing.

BASCUM O. AUSTIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,953,819 Payne Apr. 3, 1934 2,393,951 Austin Feb. 5, 1946 2,408,188 Austin Sept. 24, 1946 2,434,182 Taplin Jan. 6, 1948 

